Features
Andrew Gioannetti
A woman’s ability to generate her own income, among many other benefits, removes ammunition from controlling and abusive men, says Lucia Cabrera-Jones, co-founder and CEO of the newly established women-owned non-governmental organization (NGO) Media. and Educational Network (Women).
Cabrera-Jones, a Cuban-born resident of Trinidad since 2005, is a chemical engineer, technician at the University of the West Indies and head of the Cuban TT Association.
Although Cabrera-Jones began “networking” with women in 2010, she became even more involved with the most vulnerable during the Covid19 pandemic, when many women lost their jobs.
Bilingual and a foreigner herself, Cabrera-Jones has worked primarily with Spanish-speaking immigrant women, many of whom lack professional opportunities due to cultural and language barriers.
During the pandemic, Cabrera-Jones and Jayme Hoyte, an entrepreneur and economist, decided to create something more formal in an effort to promote women’s autonomy and self-determination.
“We decided we needed something more structured and serious to reach women more effectively,” Cabrera-Jones told WMN.
Although self-taught, she speaks English almost fluently, even with a Trini sound amidst a dominant Cuban accent.
“Being a woman, being a foreigner, (the war) really affects me. There is a lot of talent in the Latina female community.”
Cabrera-Jones said the NGO was created after she was approached by someone working within a local community of Venezuelan female entrepreneurs who said they were struggling to enter the TT market.
Since its formation, the NGO has continuously held seminars to educate and motivate entrepreneurs.
A workshop introduced participants to the world of e-commerce.
“Some of them didn’t have social media pages,” Cabrera-Jones said.
“There is a large community of female entrepreneurs in the Latin American community, but they are struggling to get out there because of the negative connotations.
“I also left my country because of the situation there (although) I knew I could have given more. I left my hometown with the backpacks of my dreams. I have achieved as much as God wanted me to achieve so far.”
She suggested that problems between immigrants and natives often arise from a misunderstanding of cultures.
“It is not that they are bad and you are good, or that you are bad and we are good; it’s just a matter of culture.”
Like the Chinese, Syrians and other minority groups, Cubans residing in TT, she said, have much to offer the country.
However, the NGO is not about empowering a group of women, but about women in general.
“We want to take care of a lot of issues that women face.”
Cabrera-Jones is divorced and has no children. She said she has several motivations for working with women, not least her own experience in an abusive marriage.
“That’s one of the things that drives me – that I was able to get out (of my relationship).
Although she said she has never been victimized or discriminated against in Trinidad, apart from her marriage and a robbery incident, she worries about the many women, immigrants and locals, who are victims of gender-based violence and discrimination.
“One thing I’ve identified here, living in Trinidad, is that many women have no choice but to stay in unhealthy relationships just because they can’t do better.”
But, she suggested, having an income is often a significant step toward a woman’s liberation, even if it means starting small.
“Now we have social media and digital jobs, so you can take your gift, monetize it, even without leaving your home and become a better contributor to your family.
“I can tell you as a woman, if a woman has the ability to become confident, stable, you can break free. The struggle will be there, but you will overcome and you will not be the first to do it.”
The NGO is active on its social media pages. He is hosting workshops throughout August as part of a campaign titled She Can, designed to encourage female entrepreneurs.
These include a women’s personal brand development program designed to help entrepreneurs create and launch their personal brand; a program for the development of women’s business and ideas; a women’s skill development workshop and others.
Since then, the seminars have featured a variety of industry experts and motivational speakers.
